Blood-Based Screening Test Targets Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Mar 2026

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with more than 60% of cases still diagnosed at a late stage. More...

Uptake of existing screening tools remains suboptimal, as they rely on colonoscopy or stool-based kits that many eligible individuals avoid. Although newer tests offer improved accuracy, their cost can limit use in population-wide programs. To help close this screening gap, researchers in Ireland are developing a breakthrough blood-based screening test designed to support earlier detection.

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University (DCU), and University College Dublin (UCD) are developing a simple blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, CASPDx CRC, supported by €670,000 from Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund. Working with clinicians at St Vincent’s University Hospital, the team aims to shift screening toward a minimally invasive assay. The project has now entered formal validation, while immunoassay development continues.

According to the team, CASPDx CRC targets specific inflammatory markers that increase during colorectal cancer development and progression, enabling detection directly from a blood sample. The approach is designed to overcome key barriers associated with invasive procedures and the low acceptability of stool-based testing, potentially supporting broader screening uptake.

Patients are now being recruited across all Bowel Screen Centres in the Health Service Executive (HSE) Dublin & South East region for clinical validation studies, with support from the UCD Clinical Research Centre. The developers state the test is currently in clinical validation and immunoassay development phases. They aim to launch the test and establish a spin-out by the end of 2027.

The initiative is set against rising early-onset CRC, which has nearly doubled in incidence over 30 years and is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to lower screening rates among people under 50. CRC’s high incidence also imposes significant system costs in Europe. Program leaders underscore the potential role of a blood-based screen in prioritizing patients for colonoscopy after positive stool testing and in optimizing limited endoscopy capacity.

"Inflammation is a process essential for immunity, tissue maintenance and repair; however, it can also contribute to cancer growth, progression and metastasis. Our research has identified specific inflammation markers that become increased during CRC development and progression. The blood test we are developing will identify possible CRC patients by detecting these inflammatory markers directly from their blood sample," said Dr Emma Creagh, Associate Professor in Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin and Scientific Lead, CASPDx.

Related Links
CASPDx
Trinity College Dublin